Malema alternates between van, walking

Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League's march for economic freedom made its way past the Killarney suburb in northern Johannesburg after 14:00 on Thursday.

The crowd of thousands heading to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton was led by league president Julius Malema who alternated between walking and riding in a van.

Marshals shoved journalists around, while workers came out of offices to watch the peaceful march.

The Democratic Alliance said it was disturbed by reports that the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) had forced pupils from Alexandra and Soweto schools to join the march.

"The DA is appealing to the Gauteng education department ... and ANCYL leadership to respect the right of learners to attend school without political disruptions," DA spokesperson Khume Ramulifho said in a statement.

"It is a critical time for students in Gauteng as many learners are writing final exams."

Alexandra high school ‘empty’

The SABC reported earlier that all high schools in Alexandra were empty after community members forced pupils from their classes.

Schooling was also disrupted in Soweto and on the East Rand, with some schools virtually empty, the report said.

The Freedom Front Plus Youth said the march was not the answer to South Africa's problems.

"The ANC Youth League's march for so-called economic freedom does not offer solutions for South Africa's current poverty and unemployment," spokesperson Wouter Wessels in a statement.

"If the ANCYL wants to rashly continue, their supporters will in the near future be running through the streets due to total impoverishment, a further increase in unemployment and hunger."

A ‘survival tactic’

Wessels called the march a "survival tactic" for Malema.

"Malema, in the midst of his disciplinary hearing, wants to prove to the ANC leadership that he enjoys huge support and can successfully mobilise the youth. The participants in these marches have been misled," he said.

Earlier, Chamber of Mines CEO Bheki Sibiya accepted a memorandum of grievances from the marchers.

ANCYL deputy president Ronald Lamola read out the grievances contained in the memorandum before handing it over to Sibiya.

Sibiya told thousands of supporters that the chamber will reply to their grievances within five days.

Malema told supporters that Sibiya was the face of white capital.

"He is our brother but he himself doesn't have a mine," he said.

"Sign now, peacefully. There is no blood on the floor. To prevent the blood, our demands must be met."

Memorandum

The chamber hung a giant banner outside their offices that read: "Unemployment is too high. Poverty is too high. Inequality is too high. We must co-operate with you to achieve economic freedom in our lifetime."

ANCYL supporters began their "economic freedom" march to the Chamber of Mines at noon, after delays due to transport.

The league was demanding the nationalisation of mines and the introduction of probation programmes within companies to give youth skills in mining.

The memorandum calls for better wages for mine workers and the active involvement of mining companies in the development of the industry.

Lamola said the league wanted the industry to be regulated to avoid the spread of diseases such as asbestosis.

He said the chamber must respond "with immediate effect".

Sibiya said: "We agree with you that unemployment is too high, poverty is too high, inequality is too high, and we must co-operate with you to achieve economic freedom in our lifetime."

Comments

Marion - 2011-10-27 14:45

Of course he's hitching a ride. Fat Cat !! Tell us something we hadn't already anticipated. Tell us approximately how many marchers there are. None of the images give us any clear idea of whether it is 2 000 supporters or 20 000 supporters.

nhamo.dzenyika - 2011-10-27 14:52

according to CNN and BBC, the figure stands at between 50 000 - 100 000 Marion. they say that is their own estimate

Marion - 2011-10-27 15:00

@nhamo... thanks... I saw some images on the news but only of small groups so I've been wondering.

Christo - 2011-10-27 15:02

the official estimate is 6000 people.

jeffery.stokes - 2011-10-27 15:04

Nationalisation no. Programmes within companies to give youth skills in mining sounds like a good idea, BUT only for those who want to work for it. If they dont f*ck'em.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-27 15:07

How is this news? I cannot see any reference to this march on CNN or BBC news either. ANCYL is splitting the country and seeks economic ruin. Malema is the most greedy man ever.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-27 15:11

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/africa/
No mention of any of this here!

@nhamo - I am in the US and there is no mention on any news networks about the march or the ANCYL at all. The photos I have looked up online do not show anywhere near the numbers you state. I bet there will be even less by this evening, nothing like a little PT to thin the numbers.
All in all this is much ado about nothing. Do these fools honestly think they will be any better off tomorrow?
Get rid of Malenema now, he is nothing but an ignorant, self serving baffoon.

jacques.c.smit - 2011-10-27 15:45

you couldn't walk julius, because you are so fat...

Marion - 2011-10-27 15:45

@nhamo... were you pulling my socks?? :-))) Or were CNN and BBC dronk? Whatever, I fell for it. I've just seen pics of the marchers taken from above in Rosebank area and at most there are a few thousand. I saw a lot more than that when the Zulus marched to Luthuli House a number of years back. This is definitely going to give everyone a good idea of the amount of support Julius enjoys countrywide.

Chris - 2011-10-27 15:46

THERE IS APPROX 1000 marchers, most were ferried in from local schools.

Thandiwe - 2011-10-27 16:01

@Lordwick. I was referring to a post by nhamo which referred to western media erroneously - pity you are too stupid to follow a simple thread. I am neither for nor against "the west". We are all economically free - we can all start businesses, buy shares and farms - I have done all these things - you can too. Don't let Malema tell us we are unable to participate TODAY as black people. Set up your business today and see. It worked for me.

Spyker - 2011-10-27 16:12

What do you mean Pulverturm..? This is THE Gay Pride parade...

Speed.E.ZN - 2011-10-27 16:39

@Lordwick
Lol ok since Thandiwe was looking at "west" news sites i have looked at some "east" websites, no news of the ANCYL or the march in these 'eastern' news sites either
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/list_en.php?cate=WORLD_eng.xml
hahaha idiot

camp.j - 2011-10-27 16:44

@nhamo... no Marion he's not pulling your socks... nhamo is an example of someone who should not have been pulled from school for the march. nhamo, there's only 3 noughts in five thousand

Pieter - 2011-10-27 16:59

Give that man a Johnny Walker.

marco.tomaso - 2011-10-27 20:56

Quick question:What's the difference between the ANCYL trekking & marching in and around JHB CBD today and the more than 700 American protesters who demonstrated against corporate greed,global warming and social inequality in New York City,Albuquerque,New Mexico or in Boston and Los Angeles and that got arrested on Brooklyn Bridge for swamping Wall Street & the Manhattan’s Financial District?
I guess the answer is this--SOUTH AFRICANS ARE MORE CIVILIZED when protesting compared to Americans.A News24 article said "Scattered groups were marching quietly" whereas the Chicago Sun news articles says "Some protesters were screaming obscenities at police and were taking hats from of the officers...that police were struggling with people who refuse to get up and move"
The Daily News said "There was a huge funnel,a bottleneck,and they couldn’t fit.People jumped from the walkway onto the roadway.They thought the roadway was open to them.Several videos taken of the event showed confusing,chaotic scenes".
Whatever you think of the ANCYL and the Malema die hard supporters I still have to read one single report about any chaotic scenes,instead we read that the marches were kinda disciplined and mature in its approach.Economic freedom or as in New York "demonstrating against corporate greed and social inequality" are the same grievances the world over but at least South Africans know how to behave.
That makes this headline irrellevant:"Fears ahead of Malema marches"-The New Age.

Myvision - 2011-10-27 14:47

Hopefully all those who received the memorandums can respond positively and assist in this fight against unemployment

Felix - 2011-10-27 14:59

1st step to fighting unemployment: Force all kids out of school to a 60km march with no supervision and alcohol. You're doing it wrong!

Myvision - 2011-10-27 15:09

If they did that for a fact then that's wrong but I'm referring to the role that business and govt should play to fight or reduce the unemployment of young graduates.

Francois - 2011-10-27 15:11

Closing factories as a result of contracts for supplies from China, wont help employment figures. Limiting the power of trade unions might help to get low productive people work for less!

Myvision - 2011-10-27 15:18

@Francois, I agree with you fully there especially when the trade unions are so powerful that they decide who should be president. 2ndly the impact of China is felt worldwide its not only us but there should be limitations.

Levett - 2011-10-27 15:28

@Novision: I'm sure there will be a lot of positive empty promises as response to this memorandum that is already in the dustbin

jeffery.stokes - 2011-10-27 15:37

@Francois -China has a great advantage over other countries, its not unions its actually called slave labour.

Francois - 2011-10-27 15:46

@Jeffery.Stokes, it's called gross over-population, something that all people seem to ignore. In South Africa, lazy, unproductive people are grossly overpaid and in over supply, quite simple. You think the ANC understands that? Nobody owes anyone a job! Get real.

Francois - 2011-10-27 15:57

@Jeffery.Stokes, you say sweat shops are good, I say human rights are ignored by over populating this planet, if you want all of us on this planet to live in wealth, who will serve us?

Fisto - 2011-10-27 18:03

We're forever in a catch-up game towards sustainable jobs as a result of a too fast growing population. The ANC cant even come up with enough jobs to keep the current population employed, impossible to think that they could ever catch up!

reinier.van.den.bergh - 2011-10-27 14:48

whiskey is bad for the legs

Sharmay - 2011-10-27 14:50

lazy bugger...

rbphiri - 2011-10-27 15:37

Why did the league President cross the road? to be an even bigger idiot on the other side.

Kevin - 2011-10-27 14:51

What a failure.Is that all the support he could muster. What a joke. What the bet they never get to Pretoria unless they ride in a car . Come on Fat boy . Stop at Leeuwkop. You may want to see what it looks like. Come on Hawks. What is happening with your investigation?

Karmah - 2011-10-27 14:54

It would be pretty funny when his supporters realize this and they start pelting his van with stones Rofl

Alan - 2011-10-27 15:02

No need to pelt it, just tip it over... of course with Juju's ever expanding waistline, this will be a feat worthy of a Guinness World Record ;)

Karmah - 2011-10-27 15:19

@Alan LOL xD

Sharmay - 2011-10-27 14:54

"Sign now, peacefully. There is no blood on the floor. To prevent the blood, our demands must be met."
.... your words speak volumes Malema...you are a threat to all South Africans. I hope your ass gets kicked out of the ANC so that you no longer have any platform to spew this crap.

Raymond - 2011-10-28 09:36

Sounds like a potential declaration of war to me.

Wayne - 2011-10-27 14:59

Taking a break from walking just like he takes a break from communism to ride the capitalism express when it suites him!

ntsiki.mdeni - 2011-10-27 15:00

"...and the introduction of probation programmes within companies to give youth skills in mining."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the MQA already doing this with mining companies? I know because I am product of such a programme.

Selwyn - 2011-10-27 15:01

Malema told supporters that Sibiya was the face of white capital.
"He is our brother but he himself doesn't have a mine," he said.
does this statement means if you work for a certain company you must own one, if thise is how he does things he have no future. and why you want our children to stay out of school to support all this

chris.debeer1 - 2011-10-27 15:13

I am white and I dont have one either like Majority of whites down own mines. DAMM apartheid did me in. I knew I was cheated

Silver - 2011-10-27 15:18

Simple. If the children stay out of school they will not get an education. They will remain hungry and listen to empty promises by the black elite who will only use them to stay in power.

Bokfan - 2011-10-27 15:01

Even his Brightbling was too heavy for this young liarn

Mike - 2011-10-27 15:02

Hahahahahaha! The story of Africa. Like a stuck record.

jordaanjean - 2011-10-27 15:03

HAAA HAA.. he has so little support that he has to FORCE school children to join the march. To be Blatantly honest, what school kid would miss an opportunity to skip school and go for a walk with supplied KFC and "water".
He is a failure. I dare the media to interview some of the school kids there and ask them if they have any idea why they are marching and if the think FAT CAT Malema sees himself as equal to them, when he is riding and not walking. Now hopefully Mr Sexwale etc. will see they don't need him and stop supporting this war monger.
He said there will be blood shed. That is a really frigtening thougt. Does he even realize that all of this can be avoided. It is as if he really wish he was alive in the apartheid days. It really seems that he will not be satisfied until there is bloodshed .. That makes me sad. I do not want my countrymen to kill each other, just because of idiots like Malema.
Together we are stronger. Remember that. Dividing the nation is a bad idea.

Mike - 2011-10-27 15:05

Why has this fat little turd taken to wearing a beret? Does he see himself as some kind of military figure? What a maaifoedie.

Robs - 2011-10-27 20:38

It's the image he tries to portray. He gets it from Mama Cougar with her militaristic uniforms she used to wear. He doesn't even put it on properly. It looks like a shower cap.

Jason - 2011-10-27 15:05

Did anyone think that he'd actually walk the whole way - with that fat stomach - Never!!

Godesha - 2011-10-27 15:20

@Margie, yes he probably is...expecting beeeeeg monies.

Phillie - 2011-10-28 00:08

No Margie he has not had a bathroom break since he was 8 years old that is the stored crap that emenates from his mouth when he makes speeches

Godesha - 2011-10-27 15:05

Come on Julius, you should walk the talk. Wonder if his fans also get to ride in the van. Of course not, just like they will not see a cent of the moola if the mines etc get nationalised. Taking away from the minority to give to Julius (stuff the majority).

Deon - 2011-10-27 15:06

Marching the youth into poverty. The youth should be studying or working.

Sidima - 2011-10-27 15:09

Mines are run by south africans but majority of the proceeds go to foreign hands. surely the issue is not nationalising the mine BUT nationalsing (some of)the foreign invester's profits??

Mike - 2011-10-27 15:12

The majority of the proceeds goes to SARS.

jordaanjean - 2011-10-27 15:32

I fully agree. I hate the fact that the majority of South African gold enriches the some other countries. However, I have absolutely no confidince in our current government to actually be able to productively manage the mines and the vast sums of money that will be generated by it. Just look at all the corruption on small things and big things like the arms deal. The ANC ( apple ) unfortunately is rotten to the core and the ruling party, thus the government is also corrupt.
Would you trust them with your money ?

Levett - 2011-10-27 15:35

Why you always have plans to steal people's money but no plan to create your own wealth. BTW they pay taxes bonehead

Levett - 2011-10-27 15:42

@jordaan: Do you also hate the fact that these foreigners invested their own cash into these companies instead of begging for BEE shares. How stupid are you dude? If you want to change shareholding go buy shares on the JSE

Marion - 2011-10-27 15:54

Much as I hate to admit it, not everything Julius/ANCYL says is garbage. For instance getting the mines etc., involved in uplifting their immediate communities is an excellent idea. Or implementing processes in SA to convert minerals (or whatever one does to them) and then exporting that as finished product instead of re-importing it as finished product. Maybe mines are doing something already, but there is always room for improvement. I am 100% against nationalisation of mines and land grabs. One cannot hold existing farmers responsible for what their forefathers did. These farmers have put their blood, sweat and tears into their farms (forget about the loans they have had to take and repay to run them). Buy their land from them at a fair price by all means. Grab it? NO!

Gary - 2011-10-27 17:02

You are so wrong. The problem is that if these foreign investors don’t invest their money, there will be no mines. If we do nationalise, there will be no mines in two years. Why? Because the investors will withdraw all their capital and the government will pocket the little that remains and another million jobs down the drain. This comment of yours is clearly a lack of education in economics and your thinking is a race to increased poverty. This poverty will increase when the rest of the world introduces sanctions because of the injustice forced by the poor. Eventually we will be worse off than Zimbabwe as they are already working here. So where will we all go work then?
This is another chapter in history, “We will not learn, we will not be educated, the past is not important to us, we want to make the same mistakes” WHY? Because we are so greedy we become stupid. The cake is getting smaller and the mouths to feed are getting more.
Dream on uneducated.

Cheryl - 2011-10-27 15:10

Why dont they just all enter the comrades marathon.....? lol

Mike - 2011-10-27 15:11

This will go down in the "anals" of history as the March Of The Maaifoedies.

PvdLK - 2011-10-27 15:19

Mike, are you a Max du Preez fan?

lorrainesuh - 2011-10-27 15:11

Alternated between walking and riding in a van. I knew it. Juju can't walk

pmogala - 2011-10-27 15:11

So it is economic freedom before education.

Cristina - 2011-10-27 15:12

Cry the beloved country!!...Cry!!

Linda - 2011-10-27 15:12

And while everyone is concentrating on the march - nobody is asking about how Malema can afford to build his R16 million rand home. This is nothing more than a diversion tactic.
A man is judged by the friends he keeps.
2 ANC bigwigs are testifying for Malema at his disciplinary hearing. Tony Yengeni - who is a convicted fraudster, and Winnie Madikizela Mandela, who is not only a convicted fraudster - but was accused of ordering the murder of a youth.
With friends and mentors like that no wonder the man wouldnt know the truth if he tripped over it in the passageway!

I wish he would. I am so tired of their threats, they need to remember their fear of the white man. We need to remind them.

lorettavh - 2011-10-27 15:13

What an idiot. South Africa is really going downhill. To think they follow a man that doesn't even have an education.

Thulebona - 2011-10-27 15:13

Roar young lions Roar!!!

Stephan - 2011-10-27 15:18

Walk, young fat loser - get out and WALK!!! hahaha!

Mike - 2011-10-27 15:22

Young lions? The leader is so brave that he went to hospital for a runny nose!

Sharmay - 2011-10-27 15:24

they look like old lions to me..

Silver - 2011-10-27 15:25

Yes young uneducated Africans. Stay out of school and don't get an education. Squeal young uneducated Africans squeal for your master Malema. Keep Malema and the likes in power. You shall reap what you sew.

Mika - 2011-10-27 15:28

bleat young sheep bleat!

rynhardt.ferreira - 2011-10-27 15:33

Go play in the street with your Zulu costume you clown

Alison - 2011-10-27 15:14

Stomach IN chest OUT!

Silver - 2011-10-27 15:27

Bwaaaa hahahahaha. Stomach in? Never going to happen! It can't!

jordaanjean - 2011-10-27 15:47

I lolled :D

Jaco - 2011-10-27 15:15

Fat boy don`t like walking, what a useless individual.

William - 2011-10-27 15:17

What a joke!!! Yes lets nationalise all the mines, causing investors to run a mile and further depress our economy!! Lets grab all the kids out of school, causing a huge dip in the Matric pass rate!!! These guys are really stupid!!! Bring on 2019 when the DA and people with level heads and rational thinking rule our country!!

Daaivark - 2011-10-27 15:26

There are max 1000 in that crowd

zaakiro - 2011-10-27 15:26

Julius is walking.....
http://pic.twitter.com/HM6Nh2pf

alansmart223 - 2011-10-27 15:45

zaakiro...walking just to fetch some home made brew and a piece of KFC

Sean - 2011-10-27 15:54

The guy in the front is wearing a Gadaffi T-Shirt, another iconic example of leadership.

Charmain - 2011-10-27 15:28

is he to fat to walk nice time to drop a bomb

Marius - 2011-10-27 15:28

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it." Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931

Deon - 2011-10-27 15:44

VERY VERY VERY VERY TRUE!!!!

djmain1 - 2011-10-27 16:22

"What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving." This statement makes me think of how workers are exploited - the senior execs take enormous salaries and bonuses but come time for worker's increases they "No money"! We are the 99%!

Nic - 2011-10-27 15:29

The unemployed youth should ask Malema how is he going to implement his plans? All he talks about is nationlise mines, just how does he plan to do that? and what happens with existing mine workers?

Malcolm - 2011-10-27 15:30

I think what young Julius means when he talks about economic freedom for his followers, is that he wants them all to be free from the economy. All these free KFC munchers, are certainly free from the economy whilst they dance and chant at these marches. Little do they know that thats the way it is likely to stay for them unless they adopt a more progressive leader. My suspicions are that amongs all the free KFC, and possibly a few free dops, these youths may end up shagging as part of their celebrations, and possibly we may end up with a few hundred more of their useless offspring crawling out of pit latrines in the next nine months. Sadly this will also not assit with the old job creation problem.

thekahns - 2011-10-27 15:31

Well if you are going to force the children out of their classrooms to boost the numbers, so unemployment is to be expected becasue we will have an uneducted nation. Poor Julius and I mean it, he is so ignorant.

"Malema told supporters that Sibiya was the face of white capital"
Yes Malema...carry on....you are turning not only whites against you but your own people too....talk about blood on the floor....oh boy...nothing to do with black and white...you have 6000 supporters? Today is showing it!...So tell me Malema...what do you want to do with your 6000 supporters against millions?

Yolanda - 2011-10-27 15:33

"Schools are empty" ... and they wonder why they don't have economical freedom ... seriously ANCYL ... you think marching up and down demanding will do you any good! Bunch of low-life criminals! Time to study hard at school, you will get a job, and then you can save bit by bit ... that is the only way we had to do it!

and another thing, why do they get FREE KFC but us working people have to pay? I don't see KFC vans going around rewarding us hard working folk with free streetwise 2 piece meals! KFC can get knotted too for all I'm concerned.

P.S. Action figure walking action might differ or vary from actual actions. Any reference to persons living or otherwise is completely not accidental.

Gungets - 2011-10-27 16:15

KFC do have a Malema Pack. All left wings and #rseholes. Clearly no legs because that would mean walking.

Alwyn - 2011-10-27 16:46

Make that 10 pieces of chicken, upsize the pap & gravy, sooperkadoopersize the chips, bring on 3 burgers, 5 loaves & a 2lt Stoney. Then we can talk the walk. Burp! Sorry...it's the gas in the pap

Sybrand - 2011-10-27 15:36

I have an Idea... Seeing as malema wants to give people economic freedom. How about he sell all his properties and give them to the people.

abrammokgalusi - 2011-10-27 15:40

Thats exactly what we fought for...no surrender comrades!I agree with you Juju that Mr Sibiya is the face of the white capitalist. He does not have a mine but lead a mining industry...

Silver - 2011-10-27 15:47

Yes abrammokgalusi. While the black elite drive you shall walk.

Iwan - 2011-10-27 15:42

And that sums it up perfectly. I ride - you walk, because I care about you.

Karabo - 2011-10-27 15:42

All good to march such a long distance for a good cause and lets hope it works and they get what they want.
They also should start supportng service delivery as well as it has been ignored for such a long time. Mobilitate is there to help with all your service delivery issues and logging your issues shows that you also care about your South Africa. Lets March on for a better Country.

Oboa - 2011-10-27 15:42

Julius? Is there Jelly? Is there jelly in your belly? Are you a jellybelly you little fat f@ck?????

adel.griesel - 2011-10-27 15:50

where on earth is Pres Zuma.. I don't see NOTHING from him.. during the week he fired 2 suspend 1.. VERY STRICT RULES.. I don't see any comments from him or Mrs Madela now....

Nhlayx - 2011-10-27 16:07

Did I see/hear correctly that the students were forced to join the march? how are we bettering the kids future if such disturbances occur,especially during such crucial times (final exam period)

Herman - 2011-10-27 16:11

Ja die drol is te vet om al die oad te loop!

Alwyn - 2011-10-27 16:15

You walk, he rides. You go home by bus, he goes by Range Rover. You go home to your shack, he goes home to his mansion. You eat baked beans tonight, he eats steak. Yes I can see how much he cares for the poor